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Yamaha Racing Executive Retires

Cypress, California, December 1, 2010…..Former Yamaha Racing executive and current president of Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company in Newnan, Georgia, Mr. “Tony” Iio was celebrated in retirement yesterday at Yamaha’s corporate headquarters in Cypress, California.

Joining in the celebration were former World Champions Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, and Scott Russell, and Motocross legends Mike Bell and Jim Holley. “Iio-san”, or as Kenny Roberts called him “Mr. 110%,” was instrumental in assisting the early racing careers of many riders and also helped to bring Scott Russell to Florida for his 1997 and 1998 wins at the Daytona 200 for Yamaha. Mr. Iio also spent many years during the late 80’s at Ohlins suspension company in Sweden working directly with Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey on suspension components for their YZR500’s.

As a token of appreciation, Yamaha Motor U.S. presented Iio-san with an original painting depicting Yamaha’s double win of the Daytona 200 by Scott Russell and the Daytona Supercross by Jeremy McGrath.